Category: In Case You Missed It O’ The Day

Happy Hands Tim Walz Caves, Will Work With Trump and Tom Homan. Is This Why?

The situation in Minnesota is out of control, and finally, happy hands lunatic Tim Walz has chosen reason, deciding to cooperate with Trump officials in the wake of the recent shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis last Saturday. It sparked another round of outrage from the Left, who claim, without evidence, that he was executed. Meanwhile, some conservatives claimed wrongly that he was about to commit mass slaughter before he was shot—Pretti was legally carrying a firearm at the protest. It’s created a total mess on messaging, and now Trump is stepping in to clean up the mess, appointing Tom Homan, who I assume is going to be the point person, not just of the overall operation in the state, but with Walz personally in resolving this matter (via Fox 21/Associated Press):

Walz’ office said the call was “productive.”

“The Governor made the case that we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota,” his office wrote in a release.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both Minnesota residents and U.S. citizens, were fatally shot and killed by federal immigration officers in separate incidents in Minneapolis.

Trump agreed to talk to the Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, Walz’ office said, and also agreed to look into either reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota or working with the state “in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals.”

Why the change of heart, Tim? For days, you’ve been on a psychopathic rant against federal immigration officers, comparing the situation to the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, making not-so-subtle remarks about being at war with the federal government, and finally saying that what’s happening in your state, which you’ve allowed to devolve into anarchy, is not so dissimilar to the Nazis and Anne Frank. It’s crazy. You’re a crazy person, Tim—and screaming nonsense on a bullhorn atop a metal fence is mental patient antics.

It’s now led to another person getting shot and killed over your incessant lies. But there could also be the issue of the anti-ICE signal chat being exposed, where some top Minnesota Democrats, who allegedly include Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, might have something to do with it. Reporter Cam Higby posted the contents of this chat over the weekend, showing a vast, coordinated effort to disrupt ICE operations. Some could argue it’s a blueprint on how to commit acts of domestic terrorism.

U.S. Postal Service (USPS) quietly changed its postmark rule effective December 24, 2025, clarifying that a machine postmark shows the date of the “first automated processing,” not necessarily when you dropped the mail off, which can be days later, impacting deadlines for taxes, ballots, and legal documents.

To ensure your mail is postmarked the actual date of deposit, you must request a free, manual hand-stamped postmark at a USPS counter or use Certified/Registered Mail, as machine stamps may be delayed due to network consolidation.

What changed?
Old understanding: A postmark reflected when you dropped mail in a box or at the counter.
New rule: The date on a machine postmark is when it first enters the automated sorting system at a regional facility, which could be days after you deposited it.

Why does it matter?
Deadlines: Federal and state laws often rely on the postmark date for timely filing of taxes, votes, and legal papers, potentially leading to late penalties.
Example: A tax payment dropped off on Dec 31 might get postmarked Jan 2, making it late for the Dec 31 deadline.

How to ensure an on-time postmark:
Go inside: Visit a USPS retail counter and ask the clerk for a manual (hand-stamped) postmark for free.
Use secure services: Send items via Certified Mail or Registered Mail for dated proof of mailing.
Mail early: Send time-sensitive items well before the deadline to allow for processing delays.

December 15, 1791

The first amendments to the Constitution were officially ratified on this day.
These first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Did anyone actually believe HAMAS was going to keep its promises?

You almost — almost — have to respect Hamas for the sheer audacity of today’s announcement.

Welp, So Much for Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Surprising almost nobody, Hamas today rejected essential points in Phase 2 of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan with defiant conditions that the fractured terrorist group is in zero condition to enforce.

In a statement before today’s UN vote on Trump’s proposal, Hamas (translation courtesy of open-source intel guy “Raylan Givens“) said it opposes “the disarmament of Gaza” and insisted that “any discussion about weapons will be within a Palestinian framework related to ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state.”

Calling Trump’s plan “dangerous,” Hamas described it as “an attempt to impose international guardianship over the Strip” and claimed that “humanitarian aid could become a tool of blackmail that pushes out UNRWA and Palestinian institutions.”

“Any international force must be directly subordinate to the UN and work in coordination with the official Palestinian institutions, without the participation of the occupation,” Hamas said in reference to Israel in that last bit. Hamas wants the UN to run things because the UN is friendly to Hamas and hostile to Israel. UNRWA — the UN organization responsible for “relief” in Gaza — is essentially run by Hamas.

But guess what? Losing is supposed to suck — and it’s exactly what ought to happen when you start a war with the murder of 1,100 or so civilians and kidnap 250 others.

None of this is to imply that Trump’s plan was a total failure. Implementation of Phase 1 got all 20 living hostages back to Israel and the bodies of around 20 others murdered while held under Hamas’ tender mercies. Only three bodies are believed left in Gaza.

You almost — almost — have to respect Hamas for the sheer audacity of today’s announcement. The terrorist organization doesn’t merely assert a legal sovereignty it never had, it also acts as though it hadn’t been thoroughly beaten on the field of battle, or that the only reason there are still any of them left in Gaza is the same ceasefire they just rejected.

That’s enough to make me wonder, if only for a moment, whether President Trump should have stayed hands-off until Israeli forces had completely occupied the Strip and eliminated Hamas. But then I think of those hostages, finally home after two hellish years. Trump’s ceasefire also gave Israel much-needed diplomatic breathing space, particularly from our so-called allies in London, Paris, and Ottawa, hell-bent on legitimizing Hamas. Now, when the ceasefire fails, the onus is on Hamas for choosing war over peace.

So, yeah, even with Phase 2 effectively Tango-Uniform, Trump’s diplomacy was worth it. Phase 1 didn’t do anything to help Hamas, but it did get nearly all of the hostages home, dead or alive.

What happens next? Well, if Hamas doesn’t want a ceasefire, there’s no reason for Israel to keep the IDF on its side of the ceasefire line for one second longer than it takes to lock and load, if that’s what the government decides is right.

As Richard DeCamp wryly noted on X this morning, “So what I’m taking away from that is Hamas wants Israel to finish the job.”

What other choice has Hamas left them?

Coffee’s delicious journey from tiny bean to tasty brew.

Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, coffee is probably part of your daily routine. Since 2004, the number of American adults who’ve enjoyed a daily cup of java has jumped up 37 percent, the highest level in more than 20 years, according to the National Coffee Association. But coffee is hardly a new invention. Its roots go all the way back to 850 CE , when coffee beans were first cultivated in the Arabian colony of Harar near present-day Ethiopia.

“From there, coffee was transported to Mecca and spread throughout the Arabian continent,” Bryan Quoc Le, food scientist and CEO at Mendocino Food Consulting, tells Popular Science. “But only in the 1600s did Venetian merchants record seeing a blackish beverage that resembled modern coffee, and brought coffee beans to Europe.”

Throughout this history, the way we grow, prepare, and serve coffee has changed. According to Samo Smrke, a research associate at Zurich University of Applied Sciences’ Coffee Excellence Center, there’s not a whole lot of other foods that receive the same level of processing as coffee–and every tiny step, from the soil it’s grown into to the temperature it’s boiled at has an impact on flavor.

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The Secret Religious History of April Fools’ Day

April Fools’ Day is fast approaching here, a holiday where one must be skeptical of everything they hear (and potentially still fall for a prank or two). It’s a fun day of japes and jokes… but where exactly did it come from, anyway? And how did the first day of April become synonymous with pranks and put-ons?

Well, the truth is a little murky. But some historians say April Fools’ Day’s origins can be traced all the way back to ancient religious celebrations during the Middle Ages, including some eyebrow-raising Christian feast days.

No foolin’ here: this is the secret religious history of April Fool’s Day.

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Something, something, OODA Loop, something.

The fight over this will be interesting, and ugly, and I don’t see where Trump has anything to lose from it. – Glenn Reynolds